Since When Were You The Villain?

Chapter 93:   

   

Beatrice mourned the death of the grand duke, took away Killian, and looked through all the materials owned by the Grand Duke.    

However, no matter how much she searched through the grand duke’s records, she couldn’t find any information about the whereabouts of the baby.    

She had wanted to reenact an ancient king’s order to kill all children born around the same time as the baby. Still, she refrained from doing so, fearing it would incite anger from the Niore family and the public.    

As time passed, the baby’s existence faded into obscurity.    

“I knew I couldn’t leave it unattended forever, and it might become a problem someday…”   

In the end, Beatrice had to refill the hounds’ collars with rosary seeds.   

She had loved rosary seeds since her childhood. They were not only beautiful decorations, but also contained deadly poison.    

During her childhood, her father brought her extreme poison from Alvedi, which had a captivating beauty.   

Beatrice cherished the rosary seeds and began collecting accessories made from them. She shared her treasures with those who followed her, believing that rosary seeds would cleverly help them out if they ever found themselves in a tight spot.   

Whether you put that extreme poison in the other person’s mouth or in your own mouth,.  

Her hunting hounds could choose their fate freely with those red beads.    

“Now that I know who the baby is, I must kill them.”    

The sword and poison were ready.   

Estelle Niore was a formidable warrior, but in the end, she was someone who could be killed if stabbed with a knife or poisoned.  

She had even killed Howard Viprons Rivelon, the great war hero and Grand Duke. Would it be difficult to kill Estelle.   

However, the one thing troubling her was the Black Moon.   

“…One who follows the footsteps of the illegitimate child.”  

If she killed Estelle, the Black Moon would also hide in the shadows behind her.  

And, like the adopted child who had returned, they might reveal their face and intentions again at any moment.  

Beatrice was more concerned about this unknown figure than the illegitimate child.  

‘The Black Moon’s exact purpose is unknown…’  

Was it to make the baby the emperor?   

At this point, the only purpose of searching for the baby was that.    

‘He plots treason…’  

This was the first time she had encountered such a difficult opponent.   

However, it only made Beatrice’s eyes gleam more brightly, knowing the challenge she faced.   

‘Perhaps the Black Moon has learned that Estelle is the baby.’  

Beatrice contemplated this, and a slight smile curled at the corner of her lips. She gently placed Elizabeth, who had been lying on her lap, onto the cushion and turned toward her desk.   

‘Shall I throw a bait…?’  

Estelle could be eliminated at any time. So, unmasking the Black Moon was a higher priority.   

Beatrice sat down at her desk and picked up a pen. The pen glided smoothly over the paper, writing the name “Estelle Niore.”   

Without a moment’s hesitation, she composed an elegant and courteous letter.   

Beatrice summoned a maid to deliver the letter, and when the maid entered, she brought along some news.   

“Your Highness, Count Fraus is waiting downstairs.”   

“Oh, is it already that time?”   

Beatrice glanced at the white leaf-shaped clock.   

It was time for her appointment with the Count.   

   

* * *   

   

Count Fraus meeting the Empress separately was quite a rare occurrence. The countess smiled warmly and nodded.   

“Don’t worry, everything has been handled well.”   

They were discussing the matter of rosary-related information requested by the military police intelligence.  

No matter how diligently the military police investigated, they wouldn’t be able to trace the source of the rosary. This was because it was brought in as a “bracelet” among other jewelry during the dealings with Alvedi (Kingdom name).    

They never specified the exact color or design of the bracelet in the records, so if it was mixed with other accessories and brought in as a bracelet, it wouldn’t leave any traces in the transaction records. This was how Rosary was discreetly brought into the Fraus family.  

Someone sent by the Empress would go and purchase the bracelet.   

Furthermore, the transaction volume was originally very low, so it didn’t stand out amidst the other trivial transaction records.   

“Thank you.”   

The Empress smiled kindly and nodded her head. After a moment of hesitation, the Count opened her mouth.    

“Your Highness, but I wonder what this rosary is being used for…”   

Count Fraus cautiously asked while observing Beatrice’s reaction. He had been providing Beatrice with the necessary items secretly in exchange for maintaining a stable monopoly on southern trade.   

However, he didn’t know how the items she procured were being used. Beatrice had never told the count the purpose of Rosemary. ‘But I had no idea that the red bracelet contained such a deadly toxic substance…!’   

He had brought in the rosary bracelet upon the Empress’s request, but he never thought it would contain such a deadly toxic substance.   

‘Since it had toxicity, I was told to handle it with care… But I never knew it was this deadly!’  

Rosary was an unfamiliar plant, even to experts.   

Therefore, the Count assumed that the toxicity of rosemary would be no worse than that of oil and didn’t give it much thought. Moreover, as long as the surface wasn’t damaged, it didn’t exhibit any toxic reactions, so none of the workers showed signs of poisoning.   

‘It’s insane that they would make a bracelet out of such a deadly toxic plant!’   

In any case, the count learned about Rosemary through the military police intelligence’s investigation request this time.   

‘So, is it okay to continue dealing with this…? Judging from the atmosphere, it seems to be related to the Black Moon.’   

It was said that the rosary was discovered wherever the Black Moon appeared.   

In that case, the Black Moon was, in fact, the Empress’s…?   

Seeing the Count roll his head in fear, Beatrice raised her arm and gently brushed her earlobe without saying a word. As she did, her sleeve slipped down, revealing the rosary bracelet that she had been wearing on her wrist.   

“Count, have I ever asked you for help without compensating you?”   

The red bead on Beatrice’s wrist sparkled in the sunlight.   

“No, Your Majesty…!”   

“The reason you’ve been able to monopolize trade with Alvedi all this time is that the royal family didn’t take issue with it.”   

“Of course, Your Majesty!”   

“And your daughter even got engaged to the Grand Duke of the Empire.”  

Beatrice’s red lips curled upward as she drew a line.   

As she lowered her arm, she concealed the red bracelet back under her sleeve.   

“Every time I’ve asked, I’ve generously compensated you, and I believe I’ve given you more than enough.”   

Beatrice had treated the Count generously with the face of a forgiving and generous Empress all along.   

However, the Empress’s generosity and benevolence were not without cost.   

Count Fraus finally realized the deep meaning of the words circulating in society.   

‘Beware of Her Majesty the Benevolent Empress.’   

Some people whispered such words as if they were jokes.  

There was always a reason when the Empress gave lavish gifts or generously compensated for something.   

However, this was considered flattery by those close to the Empress.   

It was a way of socializing that was spoken with a tone of false modesty, as if it were such a burden to receive so much from the Empress.   

But those words were true.   

“I hope to continue to be with you for a long time.”   

“Yes, the Fraus family will always be loyal to the royal family.”   

The Count put his hand on his chest and spoke, but his true feelings were different.   

According to his calculated reasoning, this was a loss.   

The risk was great, and the return was uncertain.    

‘A deal like this should be avoided at all costs…!’  

The Count reached out to pick up a cup of tea but stopped in her tracks.   

Beatrice smiled as she looked at his outstretched hand suspended in mid-air.     

“Don’t worry. There’s no rosary in it.”   

“…”   

“Would I, by any chance, have poisoned the tea I’m sharing with the person?”   

The look in Beatrice’s smiling eyes made him feel a chill on the back of his neck.  

“I never worried about such a thing, Your Majesty. I was just afraid that the teacup might be too hot…”   

The Count awkwardly explained himself like a child and took a sip of tea.   

Due to tension, his throat seemed to shrink, and when he swallowed, his Adam’s apple made a loud sound.   

“It’s a Lesra black tea, isn’t it? It has a wonderful fragrance, hahaha.”   

“This Lesra Black Tea was also brought in through you. I always appreciate the finest teas you send me.”   

Beatrice smiled gently at his somewhat affected laughter and nodded her head.   

 “Is there something troubling you?”   

“Yes?”   

“The Black Moon.”   

Beatrice said.   

“Don’t worry about it. The Black Moon is not my person.”   

“Really…?”   

The Count’s eyes brightened as he lowered the teacup.   

He had thought that the Black Moon might have carried out the Empress’s orders and killed people.   

Since Rosemary had been found at every crime scene where the Black Moon appeared, it was a natural assumption.    

“I’ll swallow Rosary without hesitation if it’s a lie.”   

Beatrice raised her palm as if swearing.   

“They’re making a considerable effort to find the Black Moon in the palace as well, aren’t they? I sincerely want to catch that person too.”   

The imperial family blocked the capital and ordered the military police to actively investigate the Black Moon.   

The Emperor and Beatrice, along with Mikhail, always had guards with them. This was only natural, given that the Black Moon had infiltrated the palace during the ball.   

However, Count Fraus still couldn’t completely trust the Empress.    

‘The Imperial reaction seems more relaxed than I thought…’  

Although the military and police are working hard, a murder case still occurred in the imperial palace.   

It’s only right if there’s a little more chaos than this.   

‘Isn’t this all a play written by the imperial family?’   

The Count considered the possibility that the palace might orchestrate this crisis as an excuse to control the nobility.   

But such suspicions would be fruitless.    

So, the Count decided to swallow his baseless doubts and worry instead about situations that might not work in his favor. 

 

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TRANSLATOR:

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